This football star does stuff 'the right way.' Now Division I schools are taking notice
Dallastown junior Jalen Cook's football recruitment was going slower than expected this offseason. He had gone on a just a few college visits. So he wasn't expecting any big news when he attended a spring practice at Annapolis in late March.
A conversation with Navy head coach Brian Newberry seemed casual until it wasn't.
"He asked me if I had any offers, and I told him no," Cook said. "He said: 'Well, you've got one now.'
"I was shocked by it. It felt out of nowhere. Then it was just instant tears."
Cook officially has his first NCAA Division I offer. And his reaction to the moment is emblematic of who he is as a player and person.
The 6-foot-1 junior was one of the best football and basketball players in the YAIAA this season — a dynamic force who made circus catches and soared above the rim for dunks. And yet he sometimes went under-the-radar due to his well-rounded skillset and humble, understated personality.
But those around Cook have known about his potential for a long time. At YAIAA winter sports media day, Dallastown basketball coach Mike Grassel predicted a breakout season and said the junior "doesn't give himself enough credit." Head football coach Levi Murphy couldn't hide his pride when speaking about Cook.
"He's the No. 1 kid on our team in terms of doing stuff the right way," Murphy said. "He's a sponge. A leader who other kids stand behind. When he speaks, everyone listens.
"It's great to see him finally getting this shine. It should lead to more (college) interest because he deserves it."
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Cook also visited Villanova last month and is planning to visit Howard soon. He wanted to be a teacher and didn't consider a military career growing up, but he's excited about the prospect of attending a school with the prestige of Annapolis. U.S. service academies don't technically offer athletic scholarships, but tuition and expenses are covered following the extensive acceptance process.
A wide receiver and safety, Cook has been so versatile in high school that colleges aren't sure where to play him. Navy's coaches told him they could see him on either side of the ball. Cook caught 27 passes for 511 yards and seven touchdowns while registering 40 tackles and four interceptions last season. YAIAA Division I coaches named him a first-team all-star on both sides of the ball.
Unsurprisingly, Cook said he'll play any position in college. He's always been like that — willing to line up on specials team or guard a player four inches taller than him in basketball.
Except now he's added some confidence to his unselfish mindset.
"I've never been a super extroverted person," Cook said. "I've never wanted attention on me.
"But in my own head ... I know what I'm capable of."
'It's been awesome to see:' Growing from a role player to a star
Even as a kid, Cook wasn't interested in the spotlight.
He grew up in a football family. His father, Terry, is the receivers coach at Dallastown. His older brother, Jordan, was a dual-threat quarterback for the Wildcats in 2018. But Jalen didn't hesitate when asked if he wanted to play the same position as his brother.
"Never, never wanted to be a quarterback," he said both forcefully and with a laugh. "I didn't want to just copy him. And one day in youth ball my dad lined me up at quarterback, and I got way too close to the linemen."
Cook didn't expect to be handed a varsity role when he entered high school. Murphy said he was a willing backup to superstar wide receiver and Pitt commit Kenny Johnson as a sophomore. But his combination of speed and strength was so evident there was no way he was going to stand on the sideline. He became an all-star safety immediately.
Cook said the moment he found out he was starting on defense was when he first believed he could be a special player.
"You can't just make a kid believe. They've gotta believe in themselves," Murphy said. "I've seen Jalen over the last two years own his role in both football and basketball and continue to grow. Having that success allows him to believe in himself. It's been awesome to see."
For a player who doesn't want to be the center of attention, Cook has developed a flair for the dramatic. In a 24-20 win over South Western this fall, he intercepted two passes, returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and caught multiple passes along the sideline — including one he snagged with one hand while falling backward.
In an early December basketball game against York High, he threw down two huge dunks including an alley-oop that sent the Wildcats student section into an uproar.
Cook threw his hands in the air and raised the roof as he ran down the court with a huge smile on his face.
"Playing sports comes with that territory," he said sheepishly when asked about being a playmaker. "If someone comes up to me and says something (about a highlight play), I laugh and agree with them. But I don't overdo it or act like I'm crazy about that stuff."
'Don't sleep on us:' Why Dallastown could be a YAIAA contender next season
Cook isn't the only potential NCAA Division I wide receiver on Dallastown's roster.
Fellow junior Michael Scott has earned 18 scholarship offers — including power FBS offers from Boston College, Pitt, West Virginia, Maryland and Cincinnati. But while the two wideouts complement each other, they're "different people and players," as Murphy put it.
The 5-foot-9 Scott has blazing speed and jitterbug moves in space that have earned him the nickname "The Joystick." He has the personality to match — a confident, mile-a-minute talker who loves the spotlight. The 6-foot-1 Cook, on the other hand, is a jump-ball target who out-muscles opponents for the ball.
And Cook only speaks when he believes something needs to be said. But he's still built a strong friendship with his counterpart.
More on Scott: York County football phenom earns NCAA Division I offers
"We grew up together," Cook said. "Behind closed doors we're super close. He's just always been super outgoing, and I'm laid-back and quiet."
But there's one topic Cook isn't keeping quiet about: Dallastown's potential next fall.
It's no secret Central York has dominated YAIAA Division I football the past five years. York High has been in second place that entire stretch. But it's also clear the Wildcats are going to be loaded next season after improving throughout a 5-5 campaign this fall.
Dallastown will have a deep roster with 6-foot-5 potential Division I tight end Jack Mahoney and promising running back Christopher Cromartie back on offense with Cook and Scott. The Wildcats also have an interesting quarterback situation with rising senior Matt Stone returning from injury while Kody Kissner got a full season of experience as a sophomore.
"Don't sleep on us," Cook said confidently. "We're coming for everybody this year. We finished off last year well which is what people see. But we didn't play as well as we wanted to and we only lost to by one touchdown (to Central and York High). We wanted a better record and we will have a better record this year."
Cook is hoping to earn more offers, but with a prestigious one under his belt he isn't stressing about it anymore. He's grown in confidence. He's grown into bigger roles on his team.
Now he's ready to show how good he can be.
Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on X at @bad2theallibone.